by Kate Stewart
“You are good at this,” he complimented of my earlier comment as he started moving again, ignoring the limpness in my spent body and fucking me ruthlessly. I gripped the back of his head as he moved us forward so my feet were planted firmly on the floor.
“Ride my cock, Taylor.”
I pushed off with my feet as his arms slid around my waist and gripped me tightly. Moving furiously on his lap, I wasted myself on his thick dick, appreciating the sound of the rumble in his chest that led to the growl in his throat. I dug my nails into the flesh of his thighs as I rocked against him, the buildup burning through me. Arms still wrapped around me, his hand slid down my now slick body, his fingers teasing my pulsing clit.
“Again,” he murmured to my back before biting down hard just as I gave into his demand.
“Oh…fuck.” I detonated, washing us both in my orgasm. His grunt ripped through my body as I felt his dick harden and pulse out his release in hot spurts inside me.
In his tight embrace, I gained my wits and stiffened slightly. Sensing my retreat, he moved back on the recliner, taking me with him.
“Look at me,” he coaxed as I kept my head on his chest. “Taylor,” he warned, his thick accent covering my drying flesh in goose bumps. I braved a look at him and was completely captured when he gave me a small smile before claiming my lips in a kiss just as powerful as the one we’d shared before. Surprised and thoroughly confused, I kissed him back with as much fervor.
Our bodies still connected, his arms around me, I dove into him, my hands in his thick hair, my body warming as he kept our mouths connected. When we separated, foreheads touching and breaths heavy and rapid, I sighed. He laughed.
“Did that please you?” I asked with sarcasm and a small smile, my breath still escaping me in quick spurts.
He bit his bottom lip and studied me. My sex pulsed as I watched his face lit only by the TV, but couldn’t read his expression.
He turned me in his lap so I faced him fully and stood. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us to the bedroom.
He never answered me, but by the time the sun crept into my bedroom, I was pretty sure I got my reply.
I woke on my stomach, wrapped around an oversized pillow. Pushing the dried, sweaty red mess of hair off of my forehead, I turned to see I was again alone. It did little to stop the smile on my face.
In the shower, I went over my loss of control and the way I’d handled myself with Daniello. He might have found my lack of etiquette amusing, but I found it disgusting. Last night I’d lost order and to a complete stranger.
“Act like a lady, you’ll get treated like one.”
It had been years since I’d even thought of the voice that belonged to the man who had groomed me to become one of Tennessee’s finest debutants. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I cleared my head until the image of him dispersed, forcing thoughts of Daniello and our night together to take their place.
Washing between my thighs, I felt the delicious ache, burning, and Daniello’s absence. He’d been gentle last night. I assumed he’d sensed my vulnerability. He was good at reading me and yet he’d commented more than once that I was acting like a crazy person. Pressing my forehead to the shower wall, I groaned in embarrassed agreement.
If having Daniello near me aided in helping me abandon my good sense, maybe the whole situation needed to end. At the same time, I was having way too much fun to stop our charade. In the end, it was up to me to get my shit together. This wasn’t about emotions or the possibility of falling in love. This was about him seeing behind more than a decade old façade and wanting to uncover what lay beneath.
And once again, it was up to me to make sure that the poor piece of Tennessee white trash laid dormant to the woman I’d evolved to. A force to be reckoned with, business owner, and woman of means.
“Keep it tight between the ears and between the legs, and you become every man’s fantasy.”
“Ray,” I whispered as if anyone could hear me. It seemed all the ghosts of my pasts were making an appearance these days. While turning the shower off, I had expected ghost number three to show up in the reaper’s cloak and tell me to change my wicked ways before it was too late.
But this wasn’t A Christmas Carol, there was no Tiny Tim, and the only family needing more compassion were whispers, images, faces of my past that took residence with the rest of the ghosts in the audience while my life played out on the screen. I’d left them all behind, but it seemed these days I wasn’t trying hard enough.
It had been months or longer since I’d thought of Ray Tyco. Turning off the shower, I wiped away the moisture from my skin and cleared a visible path across the mirror to take a good look at the woman across from me.
“If you intend to play with the big boys, kitten, you have to keep your emotions in check at all times. The only time a man shows any sort of emotion in the business world is when he’s screwing or being screwed, and even then he may be hard pressed to reveal it. The world you are about to enter has no place for quivering lips and a weak mindset.”
I owed everything to that man, and yet he’d collected. He’d collected a piece of me I would never get back.
An involuntary shiver drifted down my spine as I gave myself a stern internal lashing.
Maybe it was thoughts of Laz and Ray or the fact that I knew it was time to try to reach out to Amber again. Either way, my past had nothing to do with my present or my situation with Daniello.
I sat down on my couch and texted Cedric.
Me: It’s time.
Cedric: I’ll make the call.
The last time I’d seen Amber, I’d just graduated from Harvard. I barely had enough money to get us by, but I was determined to try to get her away from my parents. My mother intercepted our reunion as Amber remained locked in our house, peeking out the window behind the same tattered curtain that I’d been forced to hit with a broom daily. Her face haunted me as it looked so much like my own, a younger and far more burdened version of myself.
The confrontation on the front porch that day had been a long time coming, and I recognized the fear in Amber’s eyes as she stared at me through the window. I hadn’t seen her in several years, but I could see the itch in her posture, the constant movement of her eyes from me to the front door. She was thinking of fleeing as my mother screamed at me in her meth-induced state. Though I tried to barrel past her, she pushed me hard on my back and began tearing at my clothes. I managed to get her off me as I watched Amber fall apart before my eyes, her indecision to leave showing in the agonizing look that painted her features. I’d gone back later that night to find her window nailed shut. My mother kept watch through the living room, pacing continually like a rabid guard dog to keep me at bay. She had her drugs to thank for her watchdog abilities.
Amber was fifteen then, and as I looked at her through the window, I saw myself so clearly. The resemblance was uncanny. And also, I knew her life, and I knew her need to escape. I wanted nothing more than to give it to her, and though I wasn’t exactly in the position to be a parent, I couldn’t help but linger.
I waited for her after school, as we’d agreed through hushed whispers through the window glass the night before, in vain. Maybe it was out of fear that she hadn’t shown, or maybe she resented me for leaving her all those years ago at my mother’s heavy hands. Either way, this time she’d left me. I’d waited for hours knowing she’d had a chance to break free at least once in the day and fought hard to respect her decision, though the urge to rip her away was debilitating.
Forced to leave town due to the danger of Laz finding out I had returned, I fled back to Boston, no closer to getting my sister out than I had been when I left. With me, she’d had a chance.
She’d never left Dyer, this much I’d found out through Cedric, who still kept up with a few people in town. She was nearly the same age that I was when I went to see her. I’d spent so many years buried in my career and working hard to get myself into a better situation, I’d abandoned he
r altogether.
I’d hoped she’d do the same for herself. I’d hope to have to track her down one day and find her married, happy, and successful. What burdened me was the fact that she hadn’t left, which almost guaranteed all my hopes for her were for nil. Dyer wasn’t a place to build a life. It lacked life, lacked oxygen, period. The town was a dead end cloud of dust that could only suffocate.
And I was sure my future would bring me back to it sooner rather than later. I jumped on my couch, deep in thought as my phone vibrated.
Cedric: She has your number.
I’d reached out. That was all I could do. It was up to her at this point. Deep down, I’d hoped for a reunion of two.
Ignoring the fact that Daniello was a dangerous man had been an oversight…until today.
I’d spent the morning working through my day at neck breaking speed, ignoring the now roaring curiosity regarding my new sexual interest. I hadn’t given a man I hardly knew permission to invade my home on his sexual whim, but in a way, I’d allowed it.
I didn’t have enough information to have Cedric run a background check, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t find anything I was truly interested in knowing with that information anyway. It was up to me to get it out of him, and even as I thought of getting inquisitive, I wasn’t sure I was brave enough.
“Taylor, line four, Mr. Di Giovanni.” I straightened in my seat as if he’d caught me red handed in my thoughts and then rolled my eyes. I ignored the slight flutter in my abdomen.
“Taylor Ellison.”
“I find myself answering to you again, Taylor Ellison. This does not please me.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his irritation. “I’m confused.”
“I am calling to ask your permission to enter your home. It seems your security has been watching for intruders.”
I muffled my laugh, knowing the flashlight cop that rode around my complex on a golf cart had probably cornered him.
“Rocco does not think this funny.” I heard it then, the dangerous situation I’d put the security guard in. I asked Daniello to hand him the phone.
“This is Taylor Ellison. The two men that are at my front door have complete access to my property. I apologize and will email the association.”
“Thank you, Ms. Ellison.” I could hear the smugness in the man’s voice and let out a breath of relief for his safety. Somehow, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that situation could have turned deadly.
Before I had a chance to speak, the line went dead. I sat back in my chair, completely baffled.
Mob, he was in the mob. He had to be. They had no patience or regard for authority. And his name Di Giovanni had mob written all over it. He paid for everything in cash, and that left him untraceable. He knew his guns and had surveyed my condo to make sure his ass was covered. He commanded respect and took without asking.
He’d practically admitted it in my office.
Great, I’m involved with a mobster.
No, you’re fucking a mobster temporarily.
Either way, this wasn’t good for me, or for business. Daniello had commented he thought it interfering with my business might seem impossible. Being involved with a member of the mob could easily tarnish my business reputation. How could he not see that?
Then again, we both knew our arrangement was temporary. He apparently isn’t high profile and kept his business to himself, and told me it wouldn’t affect me personally. Actually, he’d said it was up to me.
No closer to drawing a better conclusion, I made my way home where an angry part Hispanic, part Italian, part Egyptian mutt mobster waited on me.
When I arrived home, my condo was empty aside from his suitcase. I looked in vain for a note, knowing that wasn’t his style. Confused and yet satisfied that the slow burn I’d held for him this week would be satisfied, I showered quickly and plucked out my favorite mannequin look. Underneath, I sheathed my skin in purple lace and scented oil. I’d just finished putting on my stilettos when I heard the door chime with his entrance.
Unsure of how to greet him and determined to not screw up this round, I kept quiet as I entered the living room. Daniello’s fiery eyes greeted me as he washed my body in his stare. He was dressed in a dark suit and silver tie and looked absolutely fucking edible. His towering presence seemed surreal in my tasteful but understated living room. Anger seeped from his every pore. Small drops of blood splatter adorned his white shirt just below his tie line. He pulled off his jacket to reveal his gun strap fully loaded on each side with twin Glocks. Dispensing the guns on top of his jacket, I remained silent as he further assessed me and noticed his hands were slightly stained pink.
Blood.
He hadn’t bothered to wash them fully before returning to me.
Fear should have taken over my senses at that moment. I should have demanded an explanation. I should have been terrified…instead, I was turned on.
I ignored every warning that went off in my head. A man so dangerous shouldn’t have thrilled me. I should have demanded he leave and take his crime littered laundry with him. Instead, I waited on him.
Unclasping his cufflinks, he barked his order.
“Go take off that dress,” he whispered, moving to unbutton his shirt. “Leave the shoes on and lay face down on your bed.”
My breath hitched as he watched me for only a second before pulling off his shirt. I hesitated, but only briefly, before I walked into my bedroom and stripped down to my lace panties and heels. I waited face down, breathing heavily as I heard him in the kitchen. Anticipation for his thickness alone made me wet as I lay patient and panting. I wasn’t the best submissive in the few times I’d been to the club. I’d never met a Dom strong enough to top me. Daniello had a way of bringing me to my knees by just anticipation alone. I loved that about our arrangement. I loved his dominance and his ability to put me in my place when the mood struck him, even if I was less than cooperative. He’d waited for me to come to him the last time we were together. This time, I was the one who had to demonstrate patience.
In my world I ruled, commanded attention, and ran an empire. I controlled all things. In his world, I was his to rule, to control, to command, and I happily handed over the burden. That’s what attracted me to the submissive lifestyle, but I was quickly realizing I’d been barking up the wrong tree with that club.
I couldn’t hand the power over to just any man. I’d been waiting on this man.
Fingertips brushed over the base of my spine, trailing down to the skin my panties didn’t cover. I let out a long breath of appreciation.
“You are selfish and almost cost a man his life today playing games.” His voice was so rough, his accent thick, his anger obvious.
“I didn’t know Rocco would go all Rambo,” I said, slightly breathless as my breathing escalated and his fingertips drifted over my entrance, my panties soaked.
“He has no patience, and now you have angered him.”
On edge and needy for his fingers to keep their pace, I replied with caution. “The guard was doing his job, keeping the bad guys out.”
“You are a smart woman, Taylor.” It was a scolding I wasn’t in the mood for.
So I’d asked security to look over my condo. It wasn’t my fault he couldn’t keep his dog on a leash. I moved to turn over and face him when I felt the sting of his first slap. I inhaled deeply with the pain and before I could recover, a burn coursed through my scalp as he twisted my hair in his fist. His hair tickled my shoulder as his weight covered me and his breath hit my ear.
“Do not fucking move.”
I shivered in response, no longer able to keep my breathing inaudible. I felt his full cock harden as it teased the valley of my lace-covered ass.
I lay perfectly still as his fingers stroked and probed and his fist slowly let go of its hold on my thick hair. I was aware of everything in those moments I waited for him. The ticking of my wall clock, the sound of the fridge clicking on, the scent of him, the thickness in the air between us all f
illed my senses before the second slap shattered my attention to detail.
Burning coursed through me as I gripped the sheets tight and arousal leaked from me.
In that moment, I surrendered all.
Another soft stroke over the top of my panties strummed my clit, and then I received another hard slap just below my ass. I buckled slightly at the bite and was rewarded with a harder slap.
I’d moved.
My clit throbbed, need going unanswered. I fought the urge to writhe and beg. I lay motionless as he went on with this for a small eternity, never touching my clit, only feathering my skin with the slightest touch before each punishing strike.
After another agonizing amount of time had passed, I was lifted onto my knees as his tongue found the most heated parts of my flesh and soothed them with long tongue strokes. I moaned in thank you as he soothed each burn thoroughly before landing another hard series of slaps and tearing the lace off of me in the process. I screamed in both desperation and relief as he shoved his huge cock inside me in one quick thrust. Unable to maintain my position, I fell flat on my stomach and was rewarded with strong hands gripping my hips and leading me back to my knees. His thrusts punished me as my raw ass screamed while he grunted above me and pulled at my hips mercilessly. I felt the tremble in my abdomen as Daniello remained eerily silent, voicing his anger only by the fury of his hips and the punishing of his strokes.
Still on all fours, he lifted my leg, anchoring over his forearm and dove deeper as I shrieked in surprise.
Full.
There was no other way to describe it as his cock filled me repeatedly, rubbing every surface inside of me. Unprepared for my orgasm, I shifted under its weight and sudden arrival. I was rewarded with a powerful slap and bucked my ass up, grinding into the bed as Daniello continued to fuck me.
I let out a yelp once again as he tilted me to go deeper and I choked slightly on the pain. Lace panties interrupted my next moan as they entered my mouth.
